The Excel Template
It sounds to me as if somehow a file was saved as the default template. While Excel normally loads a blank workbook, if a template has been created and is stored in the Excel system startup folder, Excel will load that workbook every time you go to create a new file such as by using File > New.
Double Check the Excel Startup Folder
First, let’s check to see if there’s a file in the Excel Startup folder. Go to:
C:\ Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\xlstart
Is there an Excel file inside this folder? Is it the file in question that usually displays when you start Excel? If so, this is the culprit. Try moving the file to your My Documents folder instead and see if Excel won’t load a blank page. If so, problem solved. If not, let’s create a new template of our own and place it in the xlstart folder.
Creating a Default Excel Template
This trick can be useful if you have your own preferred fonts and information that you’d like to have as standard elements in all of your Excel spreadsheets. In your case, you’ll need to start out with a blank Excel workbook. Since your version keeps loading the same workbook, you can either delete the existing sheets and add new blank sheets so that you start out with an empty workbook.
Once you have an empty workbook, if you want to add any custom fields such as inserting a company logo, you can do so. Just keep in mind that all of your future spreadsheets will come pre-populated with this information, so don’t overdo it or you’ll be in the same boat.
Now, go to File >Save As. Browse to the C:\ Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\xlstart folder and name your file book. Choose the file type to ‘save as’ as a template, or *.xlt. Now, the next time you open Excel, the book.xlt template should open along with it.
Celeste Stewart | November 14th, 2008
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